Chapter 55 A Lover When I Was Gone

Something about that comment made Ophelia pause. She stopped smiling, realizing that in his eyes, despite all of her wrongdoings, she was still deceiving him. He cherished her like the daughter of a great house, but she wasn't even who he believed she was.

Ophelia's smile fell. She awkwardly glanced down at the curled animal in her arms. The puppy stared up at her, twitched an ear, and tilted his head. She quietly tapped it on the nose, earning another lick.

"Ophelia."

Ophelia bowed her head and continued to caress her new pet. She didn't dare look him in the eyes. The temperature around them dipped, as if the window was wide open. She knew it wasn't. Just his frigid gaze could turn summer into winter. The atmosphere tensed and even the puppy whimpered in fear.

"You and I are already wedded, we've consummated our marriage more than enough times. You are my wife, whether or not you like it." His voice was as desolate as a barren desert. She could feel his blood begin to boil at her silence.

"I-it's not like that, y-you don't understand!" Ophelia cried out.ﾂ�

"Then make me understand," Killorn insisted, his voice rising towards the end. He couldn't help himself, she was making him wild with bewilderment.

"Ophelia," Killorn stressed. "I have given you free rein to do almost anything you please so long as you don't endanger yourself. What makes you think I won't try to see where you're coming from?"

Ophelia blinked. "W-well I窶ｦ I uh窶ｦ"

"You're the only daughter of Matriarch Eve's favorite son. You have been cherished since birth, you may be human, but just your background alone should be enough grounds for you to make anyone listen to you."

Ah, he really didn't get it. No-fault to him, at all. Ophelia blamed herself. She was going to be the cause of yet another fight.ﾂ�

"M-my lord," Ophelia suddenly interrupted, for once in her life. She was eager to tell him the truth, for it was horrible to start off their new life in this estate with a lie.

"It's Killorn," he roughly corrected.

"I-I have something to tell you."

"I'm listening," he eagerly responded.

Killorn even bent his head to hear properly, for she spoke soft as a lamb. He was worried about her thin frame, for his fingertips could almost touch when he held her waist. Almost distracted by it, he suddenly heard her soft hiccup. What was wrong?

"I-I am an i-illegitimate daughter. M-my father loved my mother, but t-they never got married when t-they had me窶ｦ I-I'm so sorry窶能"

"That's all?" Killorn deadpanned in disbelief.ﾂ�

"O-Oh窶ｦ" Ophelia blinked. "Yes窶ｦ?"

"Okay," Killorn said like it was no big deal. "I tricked your father to get married to you. He tricked me with your background, I don't care."

Ophelia paused. What? She was light-headed from how quick this conversation went. She expected a violent outburst. Yelling, smacking, anything, but his nonchalance.

"I only want you Ophelia, not your title, your riches, or anything stupid like that," Killorn muttered. "Just you. Got it?"

Ophelia blinked. Her mind was blank, but she nodded anyway. "Y-yes."

Killorn's lips curled at her dumbfounded expression. She looked like she didn't have a single thought going on. He was almost humored, for she always appeared to be worried about something.

"You never have to hide anything from me, my lovely wife." Killorn squeezed her hips, bringing her impossibly closer. "Alright?"

Ophelia naively bobbed her head again. She was shocked and floating on cloud nine. That's it? This confession was that easy all along窶ｦ? What?

"Now that we're on confessions, did you have a lover when I was gone?"ﾂ�

Ophelia stiffened. Her head snapped up to see his serious expression. She was left agasted. Her heart had never fallen this quickly, all the way to her stomach. She felt like cold water was poured over her. The rug was yanked from her feet. Her eyes begin to cloud from her emotions.ﾂ�

Was he窶ｦ he was. Oh. My. God.ﾂ�

"Y-you still don't t-trust me," Ophelia whispered in disbelief.ﾂ�

Ophelia immediately headed for the door. If he wanted her to leave, then she would. She wouldn't even pack her bags. She'd just walk right out of the front door. But before she could even set a foot out, he grabbed her by her nape.

Within seconds, Killorn crashed her back against his chest. He let out a frustrated growl. She shivered at the beastly sound. He snaked his arms around her waist. She saw his veins pop out, highlighting the limitation of his patience.

"Where are you going? Where are you always trying to flee to?" Killorn calmly asked, grabbing her tightly.

Ophelia's breathing came out in a tremble.

"If you have a lover from back home, you must tell me. I will not tolerate you cheating窶能"ﾂ�

"I d-didn't!" Ophelia screamed, catching him by surprise. She thought he was referring to Neil Nileton, again.

Ophelia's emotions bubbled to the surface. All of her pain, her suffering, came to a screeching halt.

"I-I said s-so many t-times," Ophelia was so angry that nearly each word was a violent stutter. She wanted to get her point across.

"I'm in the wrong窶能" Killorn attempted.

"I t-told you I was forced t-to be with Neil! I-I told you t-the truth b-but you never believed me!" Ophelia shouted, shoving at his chest. She was gasping for air, so angered by his accusations, that she had enough of him.

Immediately, Killorn bowed his head to calm her down. He could tell the more anxious she was, the harder she stammered.

"Ophelia窶能"

"I-I really didn't!" Ophelia insisted, her voice rising. "A daughter h-has a duty to her family. I can't just say no! You wouldn't understand what the Matriarch would d-do to me."

"Ophelia, my sweet窶能"

"I-I thought of you!" Ophelia blurted out, tears freely streaming down her face.

Killorn recoiled. She what?

"E-every night, I thought if I should p-put you in my p-prayers when I s-see the moon."

Killorn was aghast with the truth, her words impaling him deeply. "I did not know, I'm sorry, I窶能"

"Y-you'll never trust me. No matter what I say to you, y-you'll never b-believe it," Ophelia choked out.ﾂ�

Ophelia could barely control herself anymore. She hiccuped and sobbed, her shoulders rising and falling with each gasp. His gaze softened considerably, but she was already shaking her head.

Dropping her face into her hands in disgust with herself, she continued ranting.ﾂ�

"W-why should I even tell you anything i-if you will always v-view me as a-a-a窶能" Ophelia could barely continue it.

Ophelia felt the puppy begin to paw at her chest, eager to lick her tears away. She shamefully bit her bottom lips to stop her gasps for air.

"Ophelia, don't窶能"

"A whore窶ｦ" Ophelia squeezed out, her voice breaking. "You view me as a whore."

Killorn's face blanked. The first time she stopped stuttering around him since the auction and it was to insult herself.ﾂ�

Killorn had never felt more disgusted with himself. Opening and closing his mouth, he could only bow his head in defeat.ﾂ�

A great man and commander like him, rendered speechless by a woman as harmless as the pup in her arms.ﾂ�

"I'm sorry," Killorn uttered with great earnestness. "I should've trusted you, Ophelia. I窶能"

"N-no." Ophelia shook her head. With great urgency, she fled out of the bedroom.

"Ophelia!" Killorn demanded, but it was too late.

Ophelia rushed down the stairs, startling the servants who came upon hearing a commotion.

Ophelia pushed past every confused expression. She tightened her grip on the animal. The winter breeze nipped at her exposed skin. This was going to be one of their coldest nights, but she ran out of the back entrance anyways.

Ophelia ran as far as her legs could carry her. She didn't care if she was heading straight out of the castle. She continued dashing through the snow, until her feet hit the twigs that had fallen. By then, she was gasping for air. Her lungs burned from the bitter wind. She gazed at her surroundings and saw her footprints in the snow.

"I-I want to go..." Ophelia squatted and curled into a ball. She hugged herself tightly. Anywhere was better than here. She was tired of his accusing stares, his aloofness, and how tender he was when he wanted something from her.

"Whoof." The puppy whimpered and shivered in the cold, despite Ophelia's body heat.

"A-anywhere but h-home and here窶ｦ"ﾂ�

Ophelia broke down into a crying mess. Her tears turned into ice on her cheeks, but she didn't care. She wept for as much as her heart content. She was angry at how foolish she was for trusting the maid, for allowing her blood to be taken by Natahn Nileton, and for her exploitation.

Ophelia abhorred how weak she was. If there was anything she could do to turn back time, she would. If only she learned how to be more resilient. She tried to imagine what it'd be like to see herself in a new light.ﾂ�

Abruptly, Ophelia felt the darkness around her disperse. She raised her head a tiny bit to see her shadow tall and lanky infront of her. She blinked in confusion and gazed up at the sky.

It was a full moon tonight.

The dazzling planet was a beautiful porcelain bowl in the sky. She couldn't help, but admire it. The moon light washed over her, basking her in a strange warmth. She closed her eyes and savored this moment. The sky was clear and there was no cloud in sight窶杯he wind blew it all away. She softly exhaled.

Ophelia wondered if she ran past the walls, where would she go?